A colleague at work just dropped into conversation that his mother was clearing the estate of a deceased TV engineer.So far they have cleared 3 X 3.5 tonne van loads of video recorders!!

There are loads of TVs and other stuff too so I am told.Hopefully I will get to go across and see what else there is sometime next week.

I just hope there are not the same quantity of desirable TVs too that have to go.They are clearing stuff rather than selling. So stuff will be free.The only reason I say that I hope there are not loads of gorgeous old tellies is that I have not got room for them, they will have to go quickly by the sounds of things and they are all in Northeast Scotland to boot!

It'd be worth just checking that some of these VHS recorders aren't things like the Panasonic DMR-EX95/98 and the DMR-EX47 - as these are Freeview machines, all of which have DVD drives in them and the former also has a hard drive and an SD card reader as well! Well worth grabbing if they are, like any piano-key Panasonics (hint hint).

Believe it or not, some video recorders are becoming collectible and even valuable.

At the moment, most front-loading VHS machines from the 90s and the 2000s are relatively worthless, especially if non-working. But keep an eye out for the rare models amongst the junk.

Super VHS (SVHS) are worth a lot more than standard VHS machines, since SVHS was better quality and a lot less common.

The early piano-key VHS machines are becoming collectors' items now, sometimes going for £50+ on auction sites. Look out for the Ferguson 3292 - it was their first ever VHS recorder.

Non-VHS video recorders can be valuable too. High-end Betamax machines like the Sony SL-C9UB and SL-HF950 sell for £200 or more if working, and even fetch £50+ when listed as 'untested' or faulty. Other Sony front-loading Betamax and pretty much all Sanyo Betacord models still have some value. Exception: the Sony C5 / C6 / C7 Betamaxes are fairly worthless unless working. Don't forget the early Philips formats either (N1500 / N1700 V2000).